Did a little hay last week ...

[foreman Etexas]

This one of the places I replanted I done did the part they tilled earlier this year,I done the far green in picture this past weekend in common bermuda.

You think you got hog troublesDont wonna even see the bad spots....
Trappers working on them 22 so far this year

 

[Learning to Farm]

Thanks!! So its a gamble if you bale it basically?

Foreman,

Well, if I remember correctly and I can look it up to make sure, for the Dallisgrass the fungus is contained in the seed head so you would lessen the chance by cutting before it sprouts a head (let me know,if that is even possible).

For fescue that is "easy" (I say this sarcastically), Roundup your entire field, kill everything. Plant endophyte free fescue. Guess what, in an average of 3 years they are finding the endophyte in these fields (it comes in on volunteer fescue from outside sources). Actually, I planted fescue in my renovation fields and it was the Kentucky 31. I said that if they put mares out there it was known that it was NOT endophyte-free (kind of a buyer beware). I recommend hay makers doing the same, horse people buying hay should "know" (or ask) what they are getting. If you do plant a field of the endophyte-free, target breeding farms should get top dollar, based on harvesting conditions, as it is a specialty grass.

I hope that helps (Or at least explains it)


Also, Pacerron:

Not to be picking on M-7 for baling and feeding what he calls " Johnson Grass" to his horses and cows in Tennessee... but Johnson Grass is on the list of one of the world's 10 worst weeds. It is not hay.

When I wrote, "A weed is just a plant growing where you don't want it. Also, any forage (grass or legume) can be made into hay." I was just saying MotorSeven could bale crabgrass with an overseeding of thistles if he wanted and still call it hay. :laughing:

Actually in doing a little research I found that Johnson grass is not recommended for cattle (horses are monogastric and so less effected) in grass form because the cyanide is released when it is stressed it is NOT piosonous in normal conditions, and can readily be made into hay. This explains what other posters were saying earlier, that it is bad at the end of summer (ie. after drought condtions). TBNers are so smart:thumbsup:!

Site: Poisonous Plants of the Southern United States - Page 7

 

[Learning to Farm]

This one of the places I replanted. I done did the part they tilled earlier this year,I done the far green in picture this past weekend in common bermuda.

Foreman, was the tilling for another crop or do you always till when planting hay? Are you mixing in manure or fertilizer?

Sorry I ask alot of questions:ashamed:.

I didn't quote the second half but are the hogs wild, you mentioned trappers. Can you "eat them"?

 

[foreman Etexas]

Foreman, was the tilling for another crop or do you always till when planting hay? Are you mixing in manure or fertilizer?

Sorry I ask alot of questions:ashamed:.

I didn't quote the second half but are the hogs wild, you mentioned trappers. Can you "eat them"?

Wild hogs is what destory the pasture(in picture),run tiller over it to bust up clumps of grass,then I seed then run my 12ft drag, gives it a smoother/even surfice and then run my 12ft roller over it. As for the other pastures the NRCS states prepared seed bed and couldnt get the guy that was to no-till drill last month,to return a phone call I had to till it instead but it was thin has some coastal in it in spots. Guess I will have to find someone to no-till the 40acres next year cause im not discing the whole thing up and starting over,just getting the bare spots this time around...
I will liquid fertilize/2-4d myself,when it starts coming up and a chance of rain.Looking for chicken litter but with fertilizer cost you cannot find any that isnt already spooking for.

Dont worry about the question,I ask several myself,always nice to talk and learn on here...

 

[blueriver]

This one of the places I replanted View attachment 266127 I done did the part they tilled earlier this year,I done the far green in picture this past weekend in common bermuda.

You think you got hog troublesDont wonna even see the bad spots....
Trappers working on them 22 so far this year

Looking good ... hard work and time will reward your efforts ... keep after it.

I'm lucky ... no wild hogs around me !!!

 

[blueriver]

Foreman, was the tilling for another crop or do you always till when planting hay? Are you mixing in manure or fertilizer?

Sorry I ask alot of questions:ashamed:.

I didn't quote the second half but are the hogs wild, you mentioned trappers. Can you "eat them"?

My opinion ... any crop, including hay must have a seed bed prepared properly. I have the best luck putting my fertilize on when the new crop is has a good start and then I apply the fertilze per the soil test for that crop. I live by the weather forecast and try (key word) try ... to put the fertilize out when the rain is forecasted.

 

[blueriver]

Wild hogs is what destory the pasture(in picture),run tiller over it to bust up clumps of grass,then I seed then run my 12ft drag, gives it a smoother/even surfice and then run my 12ft roller over it. As for the other pastures the NRCS states prepared seed bed and couldnt get the guy that was to no-till drill last month,to return a phone call I had to till it instead but it was thin has some coastal in it in spots. Guess I will have to find someone to no-till the 40acres next year cause im not discing the whole thing up and starting over,just getting the bare spots this time around...
I will liquid fertilize/2-4d myself,when it starts coming up and a chance of rain.Looking for chicken litter but with fertilizer cost you cannot find any that isnt already spooking for.

Dont worry about the question,I ask several myself,always nice to talk and learn on here...

Chicken litter has gotten so high and the availability is bad ... I've just learned to count on the co-op for my fertilize ... when I need it they have it.

I prefer coastal spriggs over the seeding of common bermuda ... Here is the easiest way to sprigg ....

Buy good coastal square bales and use a manure spreader to sling it over your seed bed and lightly disc it in ... early February or March during the rain season.

 

[blueriver]

Another thing ... all grasses ... any blend or flavor you prefer ... must be managed. You just can't go out and say I'll make that a hay field.

One must determine the proper cutting stage to make hay, the proper grazing stage ... this is an occupation where we spend $$$$$ ... research, talk, listen and learn... anyone can go out and bale a round bale per acre ... good management and we can bale 4-5 bales per acre.... takes the same amount of time, fuel and equipment.

 

[MotorSeven]

Interesting thing that occurs with having members in so many locations. Johnson Grass is considered invasive in Maryland and the person that taught the Herbicide (pesticide) class said that if it is found the owner can be fined (if they do not remove it).

Are you guys baling it or just grazing it? It may have been said, but I am reading on my phone

Grazing it and baling it and like I said it is very common here and I don't know of a single farm that does not have some Johnson Grass on it. I do inform all my buyers that my hay is a mix-match of many grasses(I identify th eone's I know of) and let them decide on their own if they want to feed it. So far both the horse and cow folks come back and buy more.

Pacer, yes it is Johnson grass - exactly the link you posted. Again, if it is cut around 2-3' and still tender(not seeding), it's fine. If let go it goes over 6' easy and even the cows won't eat it ans probably shouldn't. During July and August we don't turn out as many bales(half) because we cut the Johnson when it is short, but we do it for a couple of reasons. One is yours...weed control, the other is once the Johnson is cut and the weather cools a bit, the stuff just stops growing and the Fescue comes back on and chokes it out.

Now I read a lot here about killing off one kind of grass and re-seeding with another better grass. Believe me, I would love to have that opportunity. But it won't work with our bottom land. Big War Creek runs through my place and it's 35' bank to bank with 6' sides. When it floods, and it does 2-3 times a winter -average-(we had 7 floods in winter '10) the entire pasture goes under water from a few inches to 4-5' deep in spots. So you see no matter what we plant, the Big War will just bring us what it wants. On the plus side, all that silt from a rip snorting creek fertilizes the pastures for "free"

So is bottom land dwellers have to "dance with the one that brung us", and so far I don't mind a bit:laughing:

Ok, some Clyde pic's to follow.........

 

[MotorSeven]

Dirty Harry(left) and Cole: